Stranger In The Crowd

Content

Opening Theme Opening Vamp/ That's All Right, Mama I Got a Woman Hound Dog Monologue Love Me Tender (with false start) Don't Cry Daddy In the Ghetto I Just Can't Help Believin' Stranger In The Crowd Make The World Go Away Sweet Caroline (with false start) You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin' Polk Salad Annie Band introductions/ Instrumental break Band introductions/ Introduction of Art Carney The Wonder of You Heartbreak Hotel Blue Suede Shoes One Night All Shook Up Bridge over Troubled Water Suspicious Minds Can't Help Falling in Love Bonus:Sweet Caroline (with false start), full mono version 1970/08/13 D.S.

Reviews

Last week I was pleasantly surprised by the announcement of this CD by Audionics and the fact that it was out already and I got it only a couple of days later makes me delirious!

DesignThe design is fantastic; the fold out cover has a smaller booklet, just like the recent April Fool’s Dinner. The style reminds me of those treasured In Person / On Stage albums. The booklet has well researched liner notes and is decorated merely with pictures of the actual show, as well as a few candid shots.

ContentWhen reviewing the “ultimate” TTWII release earlier this year I wrote about the CDs:

“The CDs are filled with my favourite live material (if I ever listen to an audience recording nowadays, it will be a 1970 show 99 out of 100 times), I like each single one of them. The only minor is that they are in mono. So for the 3 shows released by BMG/FTD I will stick to those, although they are less complete and edited… especially since I don’t care for the sounds before the opening riff begins. The other three shows are treasured, at least until they show up in stereo sometime.”

So to be short, one of those three shows – and it happens to be my favourite one – isn’t treasured anymore. I have it in marvellous stereo now; the official releases can hardly match it regarding sound quality. I saw some remarks like “you won’t need this, if you have the box set”, but I can only say that this release gives me way more pleasure than the mono version. And even the bonus track, which is mono, is superior to the quality of the version included in the box set!

Content wise I do not have to tell much, the rarities are mostly known because of the 3CD box set BMG made (and the DVD of course). The only track that isn’t really my thing is Love Me Tender, but Elvis called it the best part of the show and he deserved it in August 1970! Gladly he stayed on stage and the whole thing took less than 4 minutes. All together we have a very well balanced show, mixing old and new. Hardly any song can be called a throwaway (or it must be LMT or Blue Suede Shoes) and Elvis really delivered a top notch performance.

ConclusionIf you like to enjoy Elvis on stage at his very best, you MUST buy this one, it won’t get any better! It’s a bloody shame only a select group of people will be able to enjoy this masterpiece. I know for sure it’ll top my contribution to the Import Top 40 for a long time.